Camp I-Wanna-Ski!
What is Camp I-Wanna-Ski?
Camp I-Wanna-Ski is the Mad-City Water Ski Team’s signature community outreach program—a series of inclusive learn-to-ski clinics designed to introduce children, teens, and adults of all abilities to the joy of water skiing. Held at our home site on Lake Monona in Madison, Wisconsin, these clinics create a welcoming, supportive, and confidence-building environment where participants can try something new, push past personal boundaries, and experience the thrill of being out on the water.
Whether someone arrives eager to learn, feeling nervous, or unsure if skiing is even possible for them, our volunteer team meets each participant exactly where they are. Using a combination of traditional beginner instruction and/or specialized adaptive equipment (through our partnership with Graceful Wakes), we ensure that every participant—has a safe, positive, and empowering experience.
A typical Camp I-Wanna-Ski clinic offers:
Hands-on instruction from trained volunteer skiers and water safety leaders
Adaptive support for participants needing physical assistance, including sit-skis and side-skiers
Tubing, pontoon rides, and shoreline cheering for those who prefer a less intensive experience - only during Graceful Wakes events.
Mentorship and encouragement through our collaboration with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County
A celebratory atmosphere where every attempt and success is recognized
These clinics are designed to break down barriers, create meaningful connections, and open the world of water skiing to individuals who may not otherwise have the opportunity.
Mission of the Mad-City Ski Team!
The Mad-City Water Ski Team is a nonprofit organization with a mission centered on:
Promoting safe, accessible participation in water sports
Developing athletes of all ages through teamwork, leadership, and skill-building
Creating pathways for community involvement and service
Sharing the joy, excitement, and artistry of water skiing with the public
Mad-City is known for decades of competitive excellence, including multiple National Championship titles. But just as importantly, our team is built on community, inclusion, mentorship, and service. Through our public shows, youth development programs, and community partnerships, we strive to make water skiing an activity that welcomes everyone—from first-time beginners to adaptive athletes to seasoned performers.
Camp I-Wanna-Ski represents the heart of who we are.
It brings together everything the Mad-City Water Ski Team values:
Youth development
Adaptive recreation
Volunteerism and service
Family engagement
Outdoor wellness
Access and equity in sports
Community connection
By partnering with organizations like Graceful Wakes and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County, we extend our reach beyond performance, making water skiing a tool for empowerment, healing, mentorship, and belonging. Mad-City’s mission goes far beyond the ski show footprint. Our purpose is to inspire confidence, nurture joy, and strengthen our community—one skier, one mentor, and one unforgettable day on the water at a time.
Our Partnerships:
Graceful Wakes – Adaptive Water Skiing
Graceful Wakes is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing quality of life through adaptive water skiing and water sports for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities.
Through this partnership, participants who may have limited mobility or other support needs can safely experience water skiing using:
Specialized sit-skis designed for seated skiing
Adaptive skis that can hold the rope for those who cannot grip
Trained volunteers and side-skiers who provide hands-on support in the water
This collaboration allows individuals of many different ability levels to participate fully and confidently. For many families, it is the first time they’ve seen their loved one out on the water, smiling from ear to ear.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County – Youth Mentorship on the Water
Our partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County (BBBS) brings Littles and their mentors (Bigs) out to the lake for a day that’s about much more than just skiing.
Together, we:
Give youth a chance to try something totally new
Help them build courage, resilience, and self-belief
Strengthen the bond between Littles and Bigs through shared adventure
Surround them with a supportive community that cheers them on
For many BBBS youth, access to recreational sports like water skiing is rare. Camp I-Wanna-Ski provides a one-of-a-kind experience that they will talk about for years.
Who Can Participate?
Camp I-Wanna-Ski is designed for:
Kids, teens, and adults who are brand new to water skiing
Individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities who benefit from adaptive equipment and extra support
Littles and Bigs from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County
In the future, we are working to expand offerings to veterans and more members of the adaptive community
We work hard to match each participant with the equipment and level of support that fits their needs and comfort level.
What to Expect at a Clinic:
A typical Camp I-Wanna-Ski day includes:
Welcome & Orientation
Meet the Mad-City Water Ski Team volunteers and safety coaches. We review safety basics, demonstrations, and introduce the boats and equipment.Fitting for Gear
Participants are matched with life jackets, skis, adaptive equipment, based on their needs and comfort.On-the-Water Experience
Traditional learn-to-ski runs
Adaptive ski sessions with side-skiers
Tubing and pontoon rides (Graceful Wake event only)
Shoreline cheering section filled with families, friends, and volunteers
Supportive, Encouraging Atmosphere
Our volunteers focus on encouragement, patience, and celebrating every attempt and every success — no matter how big or small.
Memories that Last
Photos, high-fives, and stories that participants and families carry with them long after they leave the shoreline.
Why It Matters:
For some participants, this is their first time attempting waterskiing or even on a boat.
For others, it’s the first time they feel the sport is truly accessible to them.
Camp I-Wanna-Ski clinics:
Promote physical activity and wellness
Support mental and emotional well-being through risk-taking in a safe environment
Create inclusive spaces where disabilities and differences are understood, respected, and supported
Strengthen mentorship and family bonds
Build a sense of belonging and community around the water
For our volunteers and organizers, the impact is just as real. Seeing someone who doubted they could “do it” come out of the water grinning with pride is the kind of moment that stays with you forever.
Our Vision for the Future:
We are continuously working to expand Camp I-Wanna-Ski by:
Purchasing our own ski equipment
Certified ski equipment can range from $50 - $5,000
Instruction and towing equipment can cost upwards of +$15,000
Hosting additional events throughout the season
Creating dedicated events for communities such as veterans and more members of the adaptive community
With equipment and continued community support, we can move from “a few special days” to a sustained, growing program that touches more lives each year.
How You Can Get Involved:
Volunteer
Help on the shoreline, in boats, with check-in, with safety, or with logistics. No skiing experience required for many roles — just a willingness to help and encourage.
Donate
Your financial support helps us:
Maintain and purchase ski equipment
Cover fuel, safety gear, and site expenses
Keep the program affordable for all participants
Sponsor
Businesses and organizations can help underwrite clinics and equipment. Sponsorships can include recognition on-site, online, and at Mad-City Ski Team performance events.
Participate
Are you part of the adaptive community, a youth-serving organization, or a veteran group interested in getting involved?
We’d love to hear from you.
– Inquire about clinics, partnerships, or sponsorships.
A Personal Note - Why This Program Matters:
For many of us on the Mad-City Water Ski Team, Camp I-Wanna-Ski is more than an event—it’s personal. This program has become a place where barriers fade, where fears are replaced by smiles, and where families witness moments they never thought possible.
“For me, that moment came the day my 8-year-old nephew, who has cerebral palsy and limited mobility, experienced water skiing for the first time with the help of Graceful Wakes’ adaptive equipment and our incredible volunteers. Sitting securely in a specially designed adaptive ski, supported by trained side-skiers, he glided across the water with a smile so big it brought tears to all of us watching. Sharing a sport that I have loved for over 30 years with them was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life.”
Their experience is a reflection of what makes this program so special:
Every participant is met exactly where they are.
Every ability is supported.
Every success—big or small—is celebrated.
And every family leaves with a memory they will cherish forever.
Camp I-Wanna-Ski is more than a clinic. It’s a community. It’s inclusion in motion. It’s proof that with the right support, the water is truly open to everyone.
And as we continue growing this program—expanding adaptive access, partnering with such groups like Graceful Wakes and Big Brothers Big Sisters, and opening new opportunities for others and underserved communities—we carry forward every one of those moments, every smile, and every story like my nephew’s.
This is why we do what we do. This is why we keep expanding.
And this is why Camp I-Wanna-Ski will always be at the heart of our mission.